Avalanche Safety Course (AIARE Level 1)

An AIARE Level 1 avalanche course is the essential prerequisite for anyone venturing into the winter backcountry — whether on skis, a snowboard, or snowshoes. The 3-day course covers snowpack observation, terrain assessment, companion rescue with beacon/probe/shovel, and decision-making frameworks for managing avalanche risk. You'll spend one day in the classroom and two days in the field digging snow pits and practicing rescue scenarios. Colorado, Utah, Washington, and British Columbia have dozens of providers. This is not optional knowledge — it's the difference between educated backcountry travel and gambling.